Russian Partisans Escalate Conflict in Belgorod: A Full-Scale War Zone Emerges
20 March 2024 17:55
Heavy fighting continues in the Belgorod region. Since March 12, Russian partisans fighting on the side of Ukraine have been storming the region. 16 people have lost their lives, and 98 have been injured. "This is not a fight against a sabotage group, but a full-scale military operation involving aviation, artillery, tanks, and a significant number of drones," Russian war bloggers note. Putin has urged the FSB to take action.
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Combat persists in the border village of Kozinka, with the neighbouring Graivoron coming under artillery fire.
"These are not mere sabotage groups infiltrating from Ukraine, but a comprehensive military effort encompassing air forces, artillery, tanks, and numerous unmanned aerial vehicles" - acknowledge Russian war bloggers, specifically internet commentators endorsing the Kremlin's stance.
Partisans share a video from Kozinka. The clip captures the moment a tank marked with the letter "Z" is hit.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin, addressing the Federal Security Service (FSB) board, insisted that special forces remember "the traitors" who have sided with the saboteurs.
- I urge you not to overlook who they are and to identify them by name. We will pursue them relentlessly, irrespective of the location or time - Putin declared.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the Belgorod region authorities intend to evacuate around 9,000 children soon.
Since March 12, the clash has been unrelenting in Russian territories bordering Ukraine, involving forces loyal to Putin's regime and Russian volunteer groups answering to Kyiv, specifically the Russian Volunteer Corps, the Freedom of Russia Legion, and the Siberian Battalion.
Recently, partisans have stated that they have seized the settlements of Tiotkino in the Kursk region and Gorkovskiy in the Belgorod region.